The NACCHO Health and Disability Program is thrilled to introduce the 2023-2024 cohort of Health and Disability fellows. NACCHO’s Health and Disability Fellowship program is an invaluable opportunity for graduate and PhD students pursuing degrees in public health to receive hands-on experience in the health and disability field. The fellowship includes providing support to local health departments (LHDs) through Strengthening Disability Inclusion Efforts within Local Health Departments; expanding written and oral communication skills; and participating in networking opportunities with leaders in the health and disability field. This year’s fellows — Jasdeep Dulay and Jerome Bronson— come with impressive public health backgrounds.

NACCHO’s Program Analyst and Fellowship Supervisor, Uyen Tran, took some time to interview the fellows to get their perspective on why they decided to participate in the fellowship and what they hope to gain from the experience.

Q1: Tell us a little bit about yourselves.

Jasdeep Dulay: I am a first year MPH/MSP (Master of Public Health/Master of Social Policy) dual-degree student at the Brown School within Washington University in St. Louis. Before returning to graduate school for my master’s, I worked on the administrative team at a public health non-profit for about 2 years, and then on the emergency preparedness team at a local health department for the following 2 years. I am currently supplementing my public health education with development opportunities such as the Brown School Student Coordinating Council, and the Graduate Policy Scholar program led by the Clark-Fox Policy Institute and the Social Policy Institute. These experiences help challenge me to integrate applied social policy and advocacy initiatives taking place in the St. Louis region.

Jerome Bronson: I am a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate at Jackson State University. For the last two years, I have worked as a health scientist fellow with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. My duties included providing a health equity perspective to the CDC Data Modernization Initiative. My research interests focus on the intersectionality of health equity and data science, investigating how to leverage data science to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations.

Q2: How did you become interested in the health and disability field?

JD: I was introduced to NACCHO through my work experience in emergency preparedness. When I came upon this fellowship and saw its overlap with emergency preparedness, it immediately reminded me of an evacuation plan I worked on at my local emergency operations center. In that plan, we needed to gather a list of people who have Access and Functional Needs in the affected area that required evacuation. I was continuously surprised and inspired by my colleagues’ knowledge and familiarity with the needs of communities within our county and grew curious about how these databases are maintained and utilized. I liked the idea of having a bird’s eye view understanding of the areas of our community that require special attention and was eager to learn how other health departments do the same.

JB: I recently completed one year of residency with Special Olympics Mississippi. My priorities of residency focused on closing the inclusive health/ health disparities gap with the Intellectual Disabilities/ Developmental Disabilities population as well as providing equitable access to quality healthcare, education, and health services. The overarching goal of my residency was to increase the inclusion of those with intellectual disabilities in mainstream health policies, programming, health services, training programs, and research.

Q3: What are your specific areas of interest in the health and disability field?

JD: I am interested in learning the ways that visibility for people with disabilities can be incorporated into any programming. Ensuring that Access and Functional Needs are embedded into all emergency plans was one of the goals of my last local health department, and I am curious to learn how various local health departments build a culture of inclusion for people with disabilities.

JB: Health promotion is a critical need area for the disability population and raising awareness for inclusive policies and practices. Many individuals with intellectual disabilities/developmental struggle with finding healthcare providers with adequate training and the knowledge base to deliver quality healthcare services to individual with intellectual disabilities with issues such as communication barriers.

Q4: What are you most excited to learn about when it comes to local health departments and public health in general?

JD: I am excited and honored to see how various health departments around the country work to incorporate planning for people with disabilities into their programs. I am also excited to gain experience in various communication activities and supporting health departments execute their visions to improve the support for people with disabilities.

JB: I am eager to learn about the various public health approaches currently being implemented at the LHD level around the U.S to address health disparities for individuals with disabilities.

Q5: What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a NACCHO fellow?

JD: During my time as a NACCHO fellow, I hope to build my knowledge and confidence in the subject of health and disabilities so that I can be a resource in the work environments I go on to join. I look forward to learning the process of curriculum development and dissemination.

JB: A collaborative/ multi-disciplinary approach is critical to addressing health disparities for the disabled population and ensuring that the right stakeholders are at the table to create effective strategies for inclusion in healthcare services for all. I hope to network and build lasting relationships with LHDs committed to improving access to healthcare services for all.

Q6: What are your career goals upon completion of the fellowship?

JD: I look forward to spending my time at the Brown School exploring various career opportunities. Having worked and volunteered in different public health initiatives, I would like to learn more about how to create effective communications and marketing in public health.

JB: Upon completing my Doctor of Public Health degree program, I plan to seek career opportunities that align with my passion for health equity research.

To learn more about the fellowship, visit NACCHO’s Health and Disability program webpage or contact Uyen Tran at [email protected].

The NACCHO Health and Disability Fellowship is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cooperative Agreement ##5NU38OT000306-05-05and NACCHO Health and Disability Program.